JIM: On the floor! [She does.] This is nice. This is very nice, I like it. [He smiles at her gently.] I like this place. I like you people, Laura. [He laughs.] You’re—you’re—out of the world!

LAURA [looking shyly away]: Are we?

JIM: You’re shy, aren’t you? Don’t be shy with me, I’m nothing to be shy of. What do you do?

LAURA: —Do?

JIM: Yes.

LAURA: I—don’t know.

JIM: You went to business college, and didn’t like it—and now?

LAURA: I—stay home—mostly.

JIM: Here?

LAURA: —Yes.

JIM: —What goes on?

LAURA: —Why—nothing.

JIM: But—something must.

LAURA: —Why—nothing. Really—nothing.

JIM: Huh! [He looks at her across the candelabra.] You’re—you’re very pretty.

LAURA [startled]: What?

JIM: The dreamy type in a girl is—very attractive. What do you do?

LAURA: I told you—really nothing. Not since the business college— didn’t work out.

JIM: But something else will.

LAURA [sadly]: I—suppose.

JIM: Sure. —Sure! Why—not everybody is—delicate—like you! [He is sitting on the floor. Slides himself closer, leaning over the candles.]

JIM: What do you do? I mean—You have dates, don’t you?

LAURA: —I—

JIM: Go out with fellows?

LAURA: —No, I—

JIM: Don’t?

LAURA: I—don’t—get along very well—with people—strangers. I—don’t meet people—often. I— [Her voice dies out in confusion. She looks down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap.]

JIM [laughs very gently]: Don’t understand why not.

LAURA: The city is big and— Everybody is busy!

JIM: What do you do?

LAURA: You keep asking me that and—I don’t know. I sketch in the park, I—have my glass collection.

JIM: A collection? Of glass?

LAURA: —Yes. [She speaks a little more naturally.]

LAURA: Little objects made out of glass, you know.

JIM: I’ve never seen any.

LAURA: Of course you have. —In windows.

JIM: Little glass objects, huh? Like what!

LAURA: Animals—mostly. Little—miniatures of them.

JIM [grinning]: Animals mostly!

LAURA: —Yes. I’ve hundreds of them. All around my bedroom on little shelves, and all in very light and—delicate colors. On sunny days—I live inside a—rainbow!

JIM [laughs softly]: Let me see them.

LAURA: I could—bring one out. Wait! I’ll bring some out!